Pros:
Overall appearance and ergonomics
Ease and speed in determining shade
Cons:
Ease of use of neutralizing color tab
The Rite-Lite shade matching light uses light-emitting diode (LED) technology to create simulated north sky daylight with a standardized color temperature of 5500° K into the dental operatory. According to AdDent, Rite-Lite’s LED technology helps to avoid shade matching mistakes by providing a neutral light environment around the restorative area.
Ease of Use
Rite-Lite is a small, handheld device that uses standard AA batteries. The manufacturer says that the device is simple to use.
When the dentist evaluators were asked to rate the ease of use of Rite-Lite, 3 rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator said that the device is “very easy to use [and the] instructions were very clear. [It] took no time at all to figure it out.” In commenting on the instruction manual that is included with the light, one evaluator said, “I prep on average 15 teeth a week and have used this guide for all shades since I received it. It has really made a difference in the ease and accuracy of color selection.”
Overall Appearance and Ergonomics
Rite-Lite is a small, lightweight shade matching light that can be carried from one operatory to another. Because it is battery operated, there are no cords to deal with. The evaluators were asked to rate the overall appearance and ergonomics of the Rite-Lite. All of the dentists rated the device as excellent in these categories. One evaluator described the device as “small, sleek, comfortable.” Another evaluator commented that Rite-Lite “has a nice weight and comfortable feel in the hand.” A third evaluator said that “patients were impressed” by the light.
Neutralizing Color Tab
Rite-Lite comes with 25 neutralizing color tabs. The intention of these tabs, according to the manufacturer, is to eliminate color distraction within the oral cavity. When the evaluators were asked to rate the usefulness of the color tabs, 1 rated them as excellent, 1 rated them as very good, and 4 rated them as good. When describing what it is like to use the tabs, one evaluator said it is “hard to some degree to hold the light, shade tab, and neutralizing tab at once. An assistant has to hold one of them.” The manufacturer’s instructions indicate that the patient should hold the tab.
Ease and Speed in Determining Shade
The Rite-Lite shade matching light has a small viewing area, which helps to eliminate outside color sources from interfering with shade selection. Ultimately, the elimination of these distractions and interference makes it easier to make a quick shade determination.
When the evaluators were asked to rate Rite-Lite on ease and speed in determining shade, 3 rated it as excellent and 3 rated it as very good. One evaluator said, “Wow! What a difference taking shades with and without the light…this is so easy.”
Overall Satisfaction
The evaluators were asked if they would recommend Rite-Lite to their colleagues. Five evaluators said they would definitely or probably recommend the light. In addition, 4 of the 6 evaluators said they would definitely or probably purchase the light in the future. At the end of the evaluation, the participating dentists were asked to rate their overall satisfaction with Rite-Lite. Three evaluators rated the light as excellent, 1 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good. One evaluator said, “Other lights are cumbersome [and] you have to wait for a printout, but this is so easy and so accurate.”
